25% off room when member paying cash? and transfer ?

[chris4disney]

We are about to buy into DVC so I've been researching about all the policies and procedures of DVC. I recently read that a member can reserve a room paying cash and tie it to their reservation of nights paying with points. I can see people doing this for weekend nights to save on points. And correct me if I'm wrong, but if the room you are paying cash for is the same size as what you paying points with (i.e. studio) than they will make this one reservation so that you don't have to check in and out for your cash days.

With all this in mind, I also read that members can get 25% off the rack rate on these cash night stays as long as MS can project that a room would be available and not used up by another member paying with points. Did I understand that correctly? So if I'm making a reservation 11-months out using points during the week and want to pay cash for Friday night, can they guarantee me at 11 months out that I will get 25% off for that night? Or will I not find out for sure until 11 months later at check-in?

Also, is it true that you can only transfer in/out points to another member once per year? And if I do transfer points in from another member, are their home resort restrictions carried over to me? For example, I own at BWV and they own at OKW... if I want to use their OKW points to make a reservation at BWV with my points, will I have to wait until 7 months out to use the OKW points? I would think yes, but I wanted to make sure I understood that correctly.

 

[CarolMN]

We are about to buy into DVC so I've been researching about all the policies and procedures of DVC. I recently read that a member can reserve a room paying cash and tie it to their reservation of nights paying with points. I can see people doing this for weekend nights to save on points. And correct me if I'm wrong, but if the room you are paying cash for is the same size as what you paying points with (i.e. studio) than they will make this one reservation so that you don't have to check in and out for your cash days.

Yes, as long as the points reservation and the cash reservation are for the exact same thing and as long as the cash portion is booked through Member Services. (You can request if you book cash through CRO/WDWTC, but there are no guarantees that you will stay in the same unit. At a minimum, you would have to check out and back in again between the points and cash portions of the reservation). Some rooms are not available for cash. For example, you cannot use cash to book a Boardwalk view at the BWV or a dedicated 2 bedroom with two queen beds in the second bedroom at BCV

With all this in mind, I also read that members can get 25% off the rack rate on these cash night stays as long as MS can project that a room would be available and not used up by another member paying with points. Did I understand that correctly? So if I'm making a reservation 11-months out using points during the week and want to pay cash for Friday night, can they guarantee me at 11 months out that I will get 25% off for that night? Or will I not find out for sure until 11 months later at check-in?

Sometimes you can get a cash room with the member discount at 11 months. But usually, cash rooms aren't available until closer to arrival. In any event, if MS has availability for cash and gives you the reservation, you will know right then if you got the 25% discount or not. Some members check back periodically as a discount may become available later. (You can sometimes book cash through MS and not get the discount. Sometimes cash isn't available at all).

Also, is it true that you can only transfer in/out points to another member once per year?

Yes, that's true. You are allowed one transfer per membership per use year (either into your account or out of it, but not both).

And if I do transfer points in from another member, are their home resort restrictions carried over to me?

Yes. Transferred points retain their original home resort and use year when transferred.

For example, I own at BWV and they own at OKW... if I want to use their OKW points to make a reservation at BWV with my points, will I have to wait until 7 months out to use the OKW points? I would think yes, but I wanted to make sure I understood that correctly.

Yes, you are correct. You couldn't use the OKW points at the BWV until the 7 month window opens. But you could make a reservation at OKW with those points at 11 months if you so desired.

 

[DebbieB]

It might be difficult to get the discount at 11 months. I've been able to get it about 3 months out (didn't try earlier). I think I did it twice and both times did not have to check-in twice.

 

[rigsby25]

I'm reserving for a wedding at Swan Dolphin. I ran out of points and wanted to help the groom's family secure a reservation. This was so complicated but I was able to rent someone else's reservation that included 4 nights of their own(Sunday thru Wednesday) , and 1 night they had rented (Thursday). Then I added Friday and Saturday with the discount for cash. So we actually have 3 reservations linked together. And to top that off - they are all guaranteed HA!

 

[DisneyFreaks]

We were able to get the cash discount at 11 months out for a 2-bedroom and a studio unit during the first week of december last year (SSR) so it doesn't hurt to ask at booking. Otherwise as others have stated keep checking back for the discount. I do know that the discounts aren't always available however we have never had a problem getting it.

 

[podsnel]

I was just able to book 4 nights in a 2br at HHI in August and 1 night (Sat) in Nov (after my cruise) at OKW and got the cash discount for both- I feel like it's a great deal!